2020 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship

[Visit RoadToIndy.Info for a full overview of the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires.]

The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship debuted in 2010 and is a continuation of the highly regarded USF2000 series which ran from 1990 through 2006, launching the careers of many of today’s top drivers. Sanctioned by INDYCAR, the series is the first official step on the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires - a clearly defined path to reach the top echelons of the sport. In addition to providing a vital training ground for rising stars, the series champion will earn a scholarship package to advance to the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, the next step on the ladder system.

Braden Eves of Cape Motorsports claimed the 2019 champion's title - by a mere five points after a thrilling battle with Hunter McElrea of Pabst Racing - and earned a scholarship valued at $305,600 to advance to Indy Pro 2000 in 2020. In total, 10 different drivers representing seven teams made their way to the podium in the 15 rounds on deck in 2019, and five different drivers captured race wins.

HISTORY

USF2000 has served as a formative step for drivers dating back to 1990. Drivers who have honed their skills in the series include Indy 500 winners Dan Wheldon, Sam Hornish Jr. and Buddy Rice and sports car talents Lawson Aschenbach, Austin Cindric, Andy Lally, Bryan Sellars and Jonathan Bomarito. Recent graduates include Spencer Pigot, Colton Herta, Zach Veach, Oliver Askew and Rinus VeeKay to name a few.

SCHEDULE

The USF2000 series will see 18 races at eight premier events headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES consisting of five road course, two street circuit and one oval event. In support of the 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500, both USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 will return for the Carb Night Classic on August 22 at Lucas Oil Raceway.

ROUND

DATE

TRACK

VENUE

1/2/3

June 20/21

Road America

4.048-mile road course**

4/5/6

May 8/9

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

2.439-mile road course**

7/8

July 11/12

Streets of Toronto, Ontario

1.755-mile street circuit

9/10/11

August 15/16

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

2.258-mile road course**

12

May 22

Lucas Oil Raceway

2.5-mile oval*

13/14

September 5/6

Portland International Raceway

1.964-mile road course

15/16

September 19/20

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

2.238-mile road course

17/18

TBD

Streets of St. Petersburg

1.8-mile street circuit

*Single race

**Tripleheader Round

2020 test days are currently scheduled for the Homestead-Miami Speedway road course on March 7/8, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 10/11 and Lucas Oil Raceway on August 20, with the remainder TBA.

COVERAGE

Road to Indy TV, the broadcast production arm of the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, will return for Season 7 in 2020 with an expanded programming platform to provide increased coverage for race fans, competitors and series partners. [Full details here.]

In 2016, the Road to Indy became the first American racing series with a dedicated broadcast channel on demand and also the first open-wheel series to have an official App on Xbox One. In 2020, all shows will now be available on demand as well as live on Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku. The shows will also be live streamed on the free Road to Indy TV App (which launched in 2015), on RoadToIndy.TV and its social media platforms and on the respective series websites – indylights.com, indypro2000.com and usf2000.com – and social media outlets.

Road to Indy TV will now be producing full live race shows with over three hours of streaming content daily on race weekends which includes a dedicated pre-race show, and race and post-race coverage of each series highlighted by special segments Paddock Pass, RTI Insider and The False Grid.

The social media component of the video content plan will include regular one-minute features with individual Indy Lights, Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000 race weekend highlights as well as Beyond the Grid, Road to Indy 101, Tech Talk, Story of the Moment and Weekend Recap segments. Fuller two to five-minute edited segments will be produced the week following a race event and will include Beyond the Grid, Road to Indy 101, Tech Talk, Story of the Moment and Race Recap.

All creative content will be supported by social media marketing, providing better brand recognition among a wider audience and more exposure for series competitors.

DRIVERS

The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship is open to drivers age 15 and up (with 14-year-olds eligible pending review and acceptance of a driving resume by the series and approval by INDYCAR).

CARS

The Tatuus USF-17 was introduced in 2017 and will remain in competition until at least 2024. It is a full carbon composite and aluminum honeycomb monocoque chassis meeting current FIA F4 safety standards and utilizes the Mazda MZR 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine with additional safety features to meet the specific needs of racing in the United States. These features include full Zylon side intrusion panels and reinforced bulkheads to strengthen the chassis for racing on oval circuits. The USF-17 also features other upgrades such as a six-speed paddle shift gearbox, four-way adjustable dampers, specific design aluminum Motegi Racing wheels, Cosworth data system, LCD steering wheel and ECU, four piston caliper PFC brakes and IndyCar-specific quick jack and roll hoop attachments.

VP Racing Fuels is the Official Fuel of USF2000.

ENGINES

The USF-17 is powered by the Mazda MZR 2-liter powerplant prepared by Elite Engines which produces 175 HP and maximum torque of 160 Ft. Lbs., utilizing a fly-by-wire throttle system and Cosworth SQ6 engine management system.

TIRES

PRIZE MONEY AND AWARDS

The 2020 champion will receive a scholarship prize package valued at $328,225 to advance to the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in 2020. The total event and year-end prize package is valued at over $447,000.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

The Road to Indy Summit and Oval Clinic is a three-part educational and promotional program held during the season. The platform provides valuable education on a variety of topics including marketing/business, media training, career growth and development, fitness and wellness, social media and a comprehensive introduction to oval track racing led by industry experts. It also features activities such as high-profile autograph sessions and fan Q&As, networking reception, team owner meet-and-greets and race shop tours. Additionally, the current points leader will pace the Freedom 100 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires field on Carb Day and be interviewed in front of the Indianapolis 500 crowd moments before the race.